The SEC Newgate AI Weekly

September has kicked off with a bang, featuring a $1 billion raise for Safe Superintelligence, more details on Apple Intelligence, further advancements towards AI-powered advertising, and artificial intelligence driving artificial muscles.

Here’s SEC Newgate’s AI Weekly.

SSI Raises $1 Billion for Safe Superintelligence

Ilya Sutskever's new venture, Safe Superintelligence (SSI), has secured a significant $1 billion funding round. The company aims to develop safe and beneficial AI systems that surpass human intelligence.

The funding highlights the continued interest in AI development, despite recent controversies and concerns about potential risks. SSI’s focus on safety, along with its experienced team, positions it as a key player in AI research.

More info on Reuters here.

What Your iPhone Will Be Able to Do... Eventually

Apple's iPhone 16 event showcased the company’s AI advancements, though many generative AI features won’t be available at launch.

The initial release of Apple Intelligence features is scheduled for October, missing the September 16th launch of iOS 18.

Starting in October, iPhones will include new AI writing tools, an upgraded Siri, and enhanced photo editing capabilities. Additional AI features, such as Visual Intelligence, Genmoji, and Image Playground, are expected to roll out later this year or in the following months. Apple also announced plans to integrate ChatGPT for more advanced generative AI options and enable Siri to complete in-app requests.

More info in The Verge here.

AI-Enhanced Advertisements Are Coming

Amazon's shopping-focused chatbot, Rufus, will soon feature sponsored ads. These ads will be displayed based on user searches and conversations, and Rufus may even generate accompanying text. Amazon aims to improve product discovery through these ads, similar to Microsoft’s experiments with Copilot. As AI development is costly, companies are increasingly seeking ways to monetize their AI products, such as through advertising.

Read more in TechCrunch here.

Artificial Intelligence Meets Artificial Muscles

Researchers at ETH Zurich and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have developed a robotic leg powered by artificial muscles. Inspired by living creatures, this leg can jump across different terrains in an agile and energy-efficient manner. Unlike conventional robotic legs driven by electric motors, this new leg uses electro-hydraulic actuators, similar to those found in balloons. These actuators work like muscles, contracting and extending to enable movement. The robotic leg is more energy-efficient and adaptable than traditional motor-powered legs, marking a promising advancement in soft robotics.

Read more here.